In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa chats to Ardal O’Hanlon about his new novel A Plot to Die For, the first book in his Blooming Murder Mystery series.

Best known for Father Ted and Death in Paradise, Ardal brings comedy, warmth and murder mystery together in this funny, charming and sharply observed cosy crime novel set in a small Irish town.

Philippa also reviews three books exploring the current tradwife trend in very different ways:

• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
• Tradwife by Sarah Langan
• The Tradwife’s Secret by Leanne Child

In this episode

• Ardal O’Hanlon on A Plot to Die For
• Writing cosy crime with genuine comedy
• Why funny writing still takes serious craft
• The influence of Death in Paradise and murder mystery structure
• Creating Finn O’Leary, celebrity gardener turned amateur detective
• Small-town Ireland, community secrets and Tidy Towns
• Writing a series and what might come next
• Audiobook narration and why Ardal reads his own book
• Philippa’s tradwife fiction recommendations

About A Plot to Die For

A Plot to Die For introduces Finn O’Leary, a TV celebrity gardener who returns home to Ireland to care for his mother — only to find himself caught up in murder, secrets and local rivalries.

Expect:

• cosy crime
• Irish humour
• amateur sleuthing
• gardening
• community drama
• a brilliant cast of characters
• and a murder during choir practice

Books reviewed

Yesteryear – Caro Claire Burke

A twisty, genre-bending tradwife novel perfect for book clubs and holiday reading.

Tradwife – Sarah Langan

A horror take on the tradwife trend, with farmhouse perfection hiding something deeply unsettling.

The Tradwife’s Secret – Leanne Child

A psychological thriller full of secrets, lies and domestic tension.

Books mentioned

• A Plot to Die For – Ardal O’Hanlon
• The Truth About Ruby Cooper – Liz Nugent
• The God of the Woods – Liz Moore
• White City – Dominic Nolan
• Yesteryear – Caro Claire Burke
• Tradwife – Sarah Langan
• The Tradwife’s Secret – Leanne Child

Biscuit verdict

Ardal chooses the Wagon Wheel — original preferred, jammy accepted in emergencies.

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